This fact sheet discusses research findings on the ways fathers impact the development of their children. Findings indicate: fathers' religiosity is linked to higher quality of parent-child relationships; fathers who regularly attend religious services are more likely to be engaged in one-on-one activities with their children; civically active fathers are more likely to participate in youth-related activities; fathers' engagement in their children's activities was linked to higher academic performance; among adolescent boys, those who receive more parenting from their fathers are less likely…
Although developing-country research has found that spending on children's food, healthcare, and education varies depending on which parent controls income, developed-country research on child wellbeing tends to ignore intrahousehold allocation. This study uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 820 couples) to analyze how mothers' versus fathers' control of money affects U.S. children's food insecurity. Results show children are least likely to experience food insecurity when parents' income is pooled and controlled by their mother and most likely to do so when…
American attitudes toward marriage have undergone changes in recent years, with shifts toward an increased acceptance of nontraditional family forms. Data show that Americans are developing increasingly favorable attitudes toward nontraditional family structures, such as cohabitation. While most American adolescents express positive attitudes toward marriage and a desire to become married themselves, more and more are accepting of nontraditional marital activities such as cohabitation and premarital sex. Rates of cohabitation are on the rise among American couples. These nontraditional…
A vast literature has assessed the relationship between marital status and health, but very little has tracked changes in health trajectories following family structure transitions, especially among unmarried fathers. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study this paper examines trajectories of paternal mental and physical health, specifically focusing on transitions into and out of residential relationships with the child's biological mother during the first five years after a new birth (N = 4,331). Continuously married fathers are in better mental and physical health…
This report is based on a study commissioned in 2002 by Dana Reichert, who was then Director of Louisiana's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The study was envisioned as a tool for assessing needs and developing policies affecting the state's many fragile families. This investigation was particularly salient because Louisiana has more fragile families per capita than any other state in the nation. The study is based on a survey conducted by Phil Richardson for Maximus Inc., of Washington, DC, which interviewed 1,200 never-married mothers receiving Food Stamps as well as 800…
This 5-year action plan promotes concrete steps for agencies / organizations to increase father-friendly and father-inclusive programs and policies. (Author abstract)
This research summary largely focuses on the benefits that dads can bring to their children's and their partner's lives, as well as to the wider economy. (Author abstract)
Starting a conversation with another parent can sometimes be a little intimidating. Dads can feel a little awkward in starting or carrying on a parenting conversation, particularly if they don't know the other person in that conversation well (or at all). This fact sheet offers tips on connecting with other parents including finding other dads with similar interests, the best ways to initiate contact, as well as what kinds of conversations to have with women with children. (Author abstract modified)
Research has identified numerous variables that characterize a "high-risk" birth; but, studies typically examine risks one at a time. This study creates an innovative cumulative measure of high-risk births, including births that occur to unmarried couples, are high-parity, are very closely-spaced, occur to unhappy couples, and occur to couples in high-conflict relationships. Using data from the 9- and 24-month waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort for co-residential couples, we incorporate data from fathers as well as mothers to assess characteristics associated with…
This InfoSheet describes key messages for a level of discourse that promotes healthy fatherhood by focusing on the broad picture of 1) child well-being, 2) gender equity, 3) men's development, and 4) community development. (Author abstract)
